Power-driven remote-controlled toy vehicle



Sept. 23; 1958 -r. B. HOWARD POWER-DRIVEN REMOTE-CONTROLLED TOY VEHICLE v,2 INVENTOR. TULANE B. How/Mao 1 t 8 e h A S ON a m 4 N mm. 02 Gm 6 5 9 l 7 l A. u A d 9 1 i F ATTORN E-YS Sept. 23, 1958 T. B. HOWARD POWER-DRIVEN REMOTE-CONTROLLED TOY VEHICLE Filed Aug. 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

TULANE a. HOWARD BY 7/2W 5m $40M A'r-TQRNEYS p 3, 1958 T. B. HOWARD 2,852,888

POWER-DRIVEN REMOTE-CONTROLLED TOY VEHICLE Filed Aug. 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

*FULANE s. HOWARD ATT'OEN EYS ATTOEN EYS Sept. 23, 1958 T. B. HOWARD POWER-DRIVEN REMOTE-CONTROLLED TOY VEHICLE F iled Aug. 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PULANE E. HQWARD aren't th ee Patented Sept. 23, 1958 2,ss2,sss

PflWER-DRWEN REMUTE-UQNTRULLED TUY VEHECLE Tulane E. Howard, Washington, E. Application August 1'7, 1956, Serial No. fill- 1,820

4 Claims. (Cl, Mi-Z44) This invention relates generally to vehicular toys and the like and is more particularly concerned with a powerdriven remote-controlled toy vehicle substantially simulating the conventional movements and functions accomplished by normal sized vehicles of a similar character.

A primary object of invention is to provide a powerdriven remote-controlled toy vehicle including a chassis incorporating driving and steering wheel assemblies thereon, an electric motor assembly on the chassis, a power transmission assembly engageable with the driving wheel assembly and wherein the motor assembly is reversible to afford forward and reverse movement of the vehicle chassis and movable parts carried thereon, and a remote control assembly including electrical control means operatively connected to the reversible motor assembly and separate mechanical control means operatively connected to both the steering wheel assembly and power transmission assembly for remotely controlling the operation thereof.

A further object of invention in conformance with that set forth is to provide in a power-driven remote-controlled vehicle of the character involved an article handling assembly operatively engageable with lift means carried on the chassis of the vehicle, said lift means being drivingly engageable with the power transmission assembly when the same is disengaged from the driving wheel assembly.

Still further objects of invention in conformance with that set forth reside in the specific structural details of the power transmission assembly and its cooperation with lift means and the driving wheel assembly of the vehicle,

the specific article handling assemblies in conjunction with the lift means of the vehicle, and the specific details of the remote control assembly relative to the steering wheel assembly.

And yet another object of invention in conformance with that set forth is to provide a novel power-driven remote-controlled toy vehicle which is readily and economically manufactured, easily used, and amusing, satisfactory and acceptable for the purpose intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will subsequently become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the novel vehicle, portions shown in section, this View being substantially on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the remote control assembly for the vehicle being shown as an enlarged perspective view;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of Figure 1, showing the interior details of the remote control assembly;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing in phantom lines the manner in which the steering wheel assembly is operated for making a right turn with the vehicle;

cit

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to Figure 1, showing an alternate position of the parts wherein the vehicle when incoporating a dump truck bed will be positioned for dumping material contained in said dump truck bed;

Figures 6a, 6b and 6c are diagrammatic views of the electric control means for the reversible electric motor of the novel vehicle;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevational View, portions broken away and shown in section, similar to Figure 1, showing an alternate embodiment of the vehicle wherein the electric motor assembly is utilized solely for the purpose of driving the driving wheel assembly of the vehicle; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the novel vehicle, similar to Figure 1, showing an alternate embodiment of the novel vehicle, wherein a vertically pivotal shovel and cab are mounted on the chassis of the vehicle, and showing in phantom lines the manner in which the bucket or shovel assembly is operated for the purpose of lifting material and dumping the same therefrom.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the power-driven remote-controlled vehicle is indicated generally at it} incorporating a motorized vehicle 12 and a remote control assembly 14.

The motorized vehicle 12 includes a chassis 16 constructed of any suitable material and including a horizontally disposed bottom portion 13 and side portions and 22. Extending from opposite sides of the forward end of the chassis are notched out. portions 24 and 26, see Figure 3, and a transversely disposed steering Wheel assembly extends therebeneath as indicated generally at 23. The forwardmost end of the chassis as indicated at 30 terminates at its sides in pivot ear elements and 34- which include transverse aligned apertures therethrough receiving a pivot shaft 36 which pivotally supports a forwardly pivoting cab housing indicated generally at 38.

The cab 38 has a rear vertical portion til terminating at its lower edge in a resilient latch element 42 including a groove portion 4 engageable with one edge of a horizontally disposed plate member 46 suitably secured and extending in horizontal relationship between opposite portions of the sides Ztl and 22 of the vehicle chassis.

The bottom 18 of the chassis has a rectangular opening formed therein, said opening having depending from a rear portion thereof a suitably secured rectangular housing indicated generally at 50. Suit-ably secured on one side of the bottom 52 of the rectangular housing is a transversely disposed reversible electric motor assembly indicated generally at 54, said motor assembly beingconnected by means of suitable electric conductors 56 and to a three position switch assembly indicated generally at on the operation of which being shown diagrammatically in Figures 6a, 6b and 60 to subsequently be described in detail. The switch assembly 60 is operatively connected to a suitable source of electric potential indicated generally at 62, in this case a dry cell battery, and any suitable manner of installation of the same in the cab 38, for example, might be adapted for operating the vehicle.

The motor assembly 54 includes a laterally extending power output shaft as having integrally secured thereon a helical worm or drive gear 66. Journaled on the shaft 64 and enclosing the drive gear or is a pivotal support collar hi5 which has extending transversely through aligned aperture portions in opposite sides thereof a suitably journaled driven shaft 70 which overlies the drive shaft 64 of the motor assembly, said driven shaft 70 having rotated thus driving the vehicle. mediate shaft 100 by means of side flange portions 108 the confines of the collar 68 a driven gear 72, said gear 72 permitting the driven shaft to rotate or pivot vertiwcally about 'a' horizontal pivot axis: defined by-the driving shaft 64 of the electric motor;assembly, however, when such rotatlon or pivoting occurs the gear 66 will rotate the driven shaft 70, said driven shaft 70 constituting a portion of the power transmission assembly of the novel vehicle.

The driven shaft 70 hasrfixedly secured on its forward end portion a driving gear 74 for drivingly engaging lift'means indicatedgenerally at '76. Secured on an intermediate portion on the opposite end of the driven shaft 70 is a helical drive worm or' gear 78 for drivingly engaging the rear drivewheel assembly of the vehicle indicated generally at 80.

The rear drive wheel assembly 80 includes a trans- I [versely disposed support shaft or axle 82, see Figure 4, 'rotatably received in horizontally disposed aligned support sleeves 84 and 86 fixedly secured on oppositely disposed side portions 88 and 90, respectively, of the rectangular housing 50, and fixedly secured on opposite ends of the shaft or axle 82 are suitable wheels 92 and 94.

- Extending vertically from opposite sides side portions 88. and of the rectangular housing 50 are aligned transversely apertured support elements 96 and 98, respectively, which have journaled therethrough opposite ends of an intermediate shaft 100. Suitably secured in circumposed relationship about an intermediate portion of the axle 82 is a driven gear 102 which interengages a driving pinion 104 fixedly secured on an intermediate portion of the intermediate shaft 100. Suitably secured in spaced relationship from the pinion gear 104 is a pinion gear 106 which underlies the helical drive gear 78 on the end of the driven shaft 70 and when engaged with the same will cause the intermediate shaft to rotate accordingly causing the axle or support shaft 82 to be Journaled on the interand 110 whichare disposed on opposite sides of the gear 106 is a L-shaped lever 112 which incorporates a vertically extending plate portion 114 having an oversized aperture 116 extending therethrough, see Figure 3, through which the rear end portion 118 of the driven shaft 70 extends.-.

Suitably secured to an aperture portion of the flange 110 is one end of a tension spring 120, the lower end portion of which being fixedly secured through an aperture in the bottom 52 of the rectangular housing 50, see Figure 4.

The tensionspring 120 biases the helical drive gear 78 into driving engagement with the pinion gear 106, inasmuch as the driven shaft 70 may be rotated about the 1 horizontal axisdefined by the drive shaft of the electric motor assembly. i

Extending longitudinally of the vehicle chassis is an externally threaded elongated feed screw 122 one end portion of which being journaled in a vertically extending apertured support fiangeportion 124, the other end portion of which extending through the forward end 126 of the rectangular housing 50, see Figure 1, forexample. The feed screw 122 has fixedly secured on the rear end portion thereof a driven gear 128 which is engageable with the gear 74 secured on the driven shaft 70 previously mentioned. The feed screw 122 has threadedly circumposed thereon a follower element 130 which moves longitudinally of the vehicle chassis when the feed screw 122 is rotated due to engagement of the gear 128 thereof with the driving gear 74. The-follower element 130 incorporates oppositely extending trunnion elements 132, see Figure 3, which extend through aligned apertures in a bifurcated end portion 134 of a vertically pivotal force transmitting lever 136. The force transmitting lever 136 incorporates an intermediate longitudinally extending lost m otion slot 138 therethrough through which extends a a transverse shaft member 140 extending through opposite sides of the vehicle chassis.

v 7 As seen in Figure 3, suitable spacer sleeves 142 may be fixedly secured on the shaft fixedlytsecured on an intermediate portion thereof,within,.v, ,,140 for .retain nglh ..sa alinlitslfixed. PQSifiQIllQlQfi to the vehicle chassis. Suitably secured in the upper end of the force transmitting lever 136 is an elongated leaf spring 144 which is engageable with the bottom portion 146 of a vertically pivotal rearwardly opening dump truck bed indicated generally at 148. The dump truck bed has secured on the bottom portion 146 thereof adjacent its rear end 150 depending pivot ear elements 152, only one being shown, which receive therethrough a transverse support shaft 154 which extends through aligned aperture portions in the opposite sides of the vehicle chassis. Circumposed about the support shaft 154 is a hairpin spring 156 one leg portion 158 of which engaging the upper edge of the transverse back plate 160 of the vehicle chassis, the other leg 162 of which engaging the under side of the dump truck bed and accordingly urging said dump truck bed to a horizontally disposed 1 position-shown in Figure 1; when the'sameis positioned in a dumping positionshown in Figure 5 by. virtue of the rotation of the feed screw 122 when the driving gear 74 rotatably engages the driven gear 128. Pivotally secured on an apertured support portion 164 on the rear end 160 of the vehicle chassis is a rigid rod element 166 the opposite end portion of which being pivotally secured on an apertured element 168 fixedly secured on the lower edge of the pivotal gate 170 of the dump truck bed which is pivotally connected on suitable pivot elements 172 extending through the sides of the dump truck bed and suitable pivot elements 174 integral with the tail gate. When the dump truck bed 148'is disposed in a horizontal position as shown in Figure l, the tail gate 17 0 thereof will be urged to a closed position .by the rod 166 and when pivoted rearwardly about'the horizontal pivot axis defined by the shaft 154, the tail gate will be disposed in the open position shown in Figure 5'.

Thus without describing the control assembly and the specific control means thereof, the electric motor assembly may be rotated in a clockwise'or counter clockwise direction, for the purpose of driving the vehicle forward or backward, i. e. the driving gear 78 is engaged with the pinion gear 106, and the dump truck bed 148 may be raised or lowered depending upon the direction of rotation of the feed screw 122 when the driving gear 78 is disengaged from the pinion gear 106, see Figure 5, for example. t

The plate element 114 of the L-shaped lever 112 includes at its upper end an apertured ear portion 178 which is connected to a flexible force transmitting element 180 such as braided cable, wire or the like, said flexible force transmitting member 180 when moved in the direction indicated by the direction arrow of Figure 5, causing the aforementioned disengagement between-the driving gear 78 and the pinion gear106. I p

The steering wheel assembly 28 comprises a pair of laterally extending support plates 182 and 184 extending from opposite sidesof; the vehicle chassis and integral therewith, see Figure 3,,said plates having suitably secured at their outer ends vertically extending tubular support sleeves 186 and 188, re spectively, which have extending therethrough an intermediate portion of steering arms 190 and 192, respectively. The lower ends of the steer.- ing arms 190 and 192 extend laterally from the sleeves 186 and 188 throughjwhich an intermediate portion thereof is journaled providing stub shafts upon-which the front wheels 19mm 196, respectively, are suitablyjournaled. Upper end portions "ofthestee'ring' arms extend through vertical journal sleeves-198 integral with a transversely extending connecting rod 200 including from an intermediate centralportion thereof a stub shaft 202. The side edge portions of the bottom 18ofthe chassis of the vehicle are formed in upwardly extending oppositely disposed channel portions 204 and 206 which slidingly support therein a cam plate 208"incorporating transversely which the stub shaft-S202 is,-reciprocably:received;;and

oneness when it is desired to make a right turn with the vehicle, for example, the cam plate 2% is moved forwardly as indicated by the direction arrow in Figure 3, for example, the connecting rod 2% will move to the left or upwardly as seen in Figure 3, wherein the wheels of the steering assembly will be disposed in the position shown by the phantom lines of Figure 3. in order to make a left turn, the cam plate 2% would be moved rearwardly, the con necting rod moved toward the right hand side of the vehicle, or the lower portion of Figure 3, wherein a left turn may be negotiated.

The angular cam track portion 21d communicates with a longitudinally extending slot portion 212, and after the cam plate 298 is moved forwardly or to the right as viewed in Figure 3, the flexible force transmitting cable 180 which is secured at 214 in a suitably apertured portion 216 of the cam plate will be moved forwardly or tensioned, thus rotating the L-shaped lever M2 in a clockwise direction. An intermediate portion of the flexible force transmitting member 180 extends through an upwardly extending aper tured guide element 21$ suitably secured adjacent the side 22 of the vehicle chassis. Thus movement of the cam plate 2% along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle chassis by virtue of the connection with the force transmitting cable 13% provides the means for pivoting or rotating the driven shaft 74 by virtue of the movement of the L-shaped lever 112 for engaging or disengaging the driving wheel assembly and lift means of the vehicle.

The control assembly ltd provides the means for controlling movement of the cam plate 2% and the direction of rotation of the electric motor assembly 5'4. The control means 14 includes a rectangular casing member 220 constructed of any suitable material, rectangularly shaped if desired, and including in addition to the switch means 60 previously mentioned, mechanical control means indicated generally at 222. The mechanical control means 222 comprises an elongated handle member 224 having a suitable knob 226 integral with one end portion thereof, said rod extending through the end wall 228 of the housing member and being secured to a relatively stiff wire element 234) which extends through a mounting nut assembly 232 secured in an apertured portion of the other end Wall of the housing member, said wire 23f) extending through a flexible casing 234, thus defining means for transmitting pressure and tension longitudinally with the flexible wire 2%, this means being conventionally identified as a Bowden wire assembly. As seen in Figure l, for example, the lower end portion of the wire 230 is suitably secured at 236 to an apertured rear end portion of the cam plate 2%.

The housing member 220 has extending through the side portion 238 thereof anelongated slot portion 240 through which extends a pointer portion 242 of a L- shaped pointer element, the other end portion of which extending within the housing member and being identified at 244, being fixedly secured in laterally extending relationship to an intermediate portion of the rod 224 as seen in Figure 2. Suitable indicia indicated generally at I 246 are disposed on the top 24-8 of the housing member for indicating the relative position of the driven shaft 1762 indicative of the condition of operation of the novel vehicle, said indicia being alignable with the upper end portion of the leg 242 of the indicator element.

The switch assembly so includes a transversely dis posed support shaft 25f? journaled in aligned apertures extending through the side wall and side Wall 252 of the housing member, said shaft supporting thereon a rotor assembly 253 which includes a central insulating core 25 which have circumposed thereon tubular contacts 256 and 25%. Extending transversely through the support shaft 250 externally of the housing member is a transverse handle 269, the other end portion of the support shaft 250 having secured diametrically of the end portion thereof a suitable pointer element 262 alignable with indicia 264 for indicating the direction of rotation of the motor as- 6 sembly i. e. rearward or forward or stop respectively indicated by R, F and S. A suitable support member 266 is mounted in the housing member 220 and has extending therefrom suitably secured mutually parallel resilient contact elements indicated generally at 268 the function of which being clearly indicated diagrammatically in Figures 6a, 6b and 60. Considering these figures, and first considering Figure 6a, electrical conductors 270 and 272 from the battery 62 are in engagement with the tubular contacts 256 and 258, respectively, the eiectrical conductors 256 and 258 to the motor assembly 254 being respectively connected to the tubular conductors 258 and 256 will accordingly drive the rotor of the motor assembly in a clockwise direction.

Considering Figure 6b, the electrical conductors 256 and 25 3: are in engagement with the nonconductor portion 254 of the switch and accordingly no current will be delivered to the motor assembly 54. Considering Figure 6, the electrical conductors 56 and 58 are respectively communicating with the contacts 256 and 258 and accordingly counterclockwise rotation of the rotor of the motor assembly 54 is accomplished.

The electrical conductors 56 and 58 together with the flexible force transmitting wire 230 and tubular housing 234 thereof are all enclosed in a suitable flexible sleeve 274 which terminates in a suitable vertically extending support sleeve 276 mounted on plate 46 of the vehicle chassis.

Considering Figure 7, there is shown a fragmentary portion of an alternate embodiment of the novel vehicle, said vehicle being indicated generally at 3% and includ ing a vehicle chassis 302 which incorporates a steering wheel assembly and control assembly identical with that of the previously described embodiment as shown in Figures 1 through 6. in the embodiment of Figure 7, the dump truck bed 304 is fixedly secured on the vehicle chassis. Accordingly, the lift means has; been eliminated in this embodiment and the electric motor assembly 54 drives by means of the shaft 64 through the medium of the gear 66 thereon a rearwardly extending driven shaft 3% which has secured thereon a driven gear 303 interengaged with the driving gear 66. The rear end portion of the shaft 366 extends through a suitable aperture portion 310 in the rear end portion 16'?) of the vehicle chassis. Fixedly secured on an intermediate portion of the driven shaft 306 is a helical drive gear 312 engaged with the pinion gear m6 carried on shaft ltltl extending transversely of the vehicle chassis for the purpose of driving the gear 162 on support shaft 82 of the drive Wheel assembly of the vehicle which is identical with that previously described.

Considerin Figure 8 there is disclosed a still further embodiment of the invention which is substantially the same as that disclosed in Figures 1 through 6, however, secured in rearwardly facing relationship on the vehicle chassis llti is a cab 4MP simulating a rearwardly facing shovel assembly 402. In the embodiment of Figure 8, an angular lever 41% is substituted for the lever 136 of the embodiment of Figures 1 through 6, the lower end portion of which as indicated at 4% being pivotally connected to the trunnion portions of the follower element 13% which is reciprocably disposed on the threaded feed screw 122 previously described. The intermediate portion of the lower leg 498 of the lever 4194 incorporates an elongated lost motion slot 41d received on the transverse shaft 146i mentioned relative to the embodiment of Figures 1 through 6. The other leg portion 412 of the lever 424 is pivotally connected at 414 to the lower end of an elongated boom 416 which incorporates an intermediate longitudinally extending slot portion 418 disposed on a support shaft 42% extending from opposite sides of the cab dill Reciprocable movement of the follower element 1% on the shaft 122 will cause movement the boom 4-16 from the solid to dotted line position shown in Figure 8.

principles of the invention.

modifications and changes will readily occur to those 7 ry iTh'e boom 416 ha'ssecured, at its upper end a suitable ong'iti ldinally "extending yoke member which "is 'bifurcateda nd is pivoted at 422'onopposite 'sides of a dump bucket 4 24.

Pivotally'supporte'd in a suitable bracket'on' an intermediate portion ofthe boom 416 is a bell crank lever -a'ssernbly 426 which'incorporatesone leg portion 423 having a suitable spring assembly 430thereabout which iseifective to urge an elongated rod member 432 which is pivotally connected at 434 to said leg 428 in the direction indicated by the dotted direction arrow in Figure "8 when the bucket 424 is disposed in the phantom line "position shown in Figure 8. The forward end of the rod "432 extends through a suitable support sleeve 436 and the forward end. portion thereof indicated at 438 will extend through a transverse aperture portion Mil in the rear wall 442 of the bucket 424. The bell crank assembly 426 includes a right angular leg portion 444 whichtis engageable witha plate member 446 of the cab 400, as shown by the solid lines of Figure 8, wherein the elongated rod 432 is moved in the direction indicated by the solid arrow of Figure 8, the weight of the material contained in the bucket 424 causing the same to rotate to the dumping position shown therein.

When the boom 416 is lowered to the phantom line position shown in Figure 8, the spring 430 will be efiective to urge the end portion 438 of the rod 432 into the aperture 440 of the bucket wherein the same may be raised to the position shown by the solid lines whereafter the material in the bucket 424 will be dumped.

Other than the specific operation of the boom 416 and The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the Further, since numerous skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope assemblies, a remote control assembly including electrical control means for operating the reversible electric motor assembly and mechanical control means for operating the steering wheel assembly and controlling driving engagement of the power transmission assembly with the motor and drive wheel assemblies, and a vertically pivotal article handling assembly on said chassis, power lift means for elevating the article handling assembly for dumping the contents thereof, the power transmission means being operatively engageable with the power lift means, said lift means including a horizontally disposed externally threaded shaft journaled on the chassis and rotatable upon engagement with the power transmission assembly, an internally threaded follower element circumposed on the threaded shaft and movable thereon in response to rotation of said shaft, a force transmitting lever pivotally connected at one end to the follower element for vertical rotation on a horizontal pivot axis, a fixed horizontal shaft extending transversely in overlying relationship over the threaded shaft, said force transmitting lever including an intermediate longitudinally extending lost motion slot through which the horizontal shaft extends, said article handling means comprising a rearwardly opening dump truck pivotally disposed on a horizontal pivot axis on the rear of the chassis and including means resiliently urging the same toward.

a horizontally disposed position, and an elongated leaf able with the underface of the truck bed bottom 2. A power-driven remote-controlled vehicular toy comprising a chassis including steering-anddrive wheel assemblies, a reversible electric motor assembly on-said chassis, power transmission on said chassis engageable between the drive wheel and reversible el ectric 'mfotor assemblies, a remote control assembly including electrical control means for operating the reversible electric motor assembly and mechanical control means for operating cring wheel assembly and controlling driving engagement of the power transmissionassembly with the motor and drive wheel assemblies, and a vertically pivotal article handling assembly on said chassis, power lift means for elevating the article handling assembly for dumping the contents thereof, the power transmission means being operatively engageable with the power lift means, the electric motor assembly including a horizen-tally disposed power output shaft including an integral helical drive gear on the outer end thereof, a tubular collar journaled on the output shaft surrounding the helical drive gear, a driven shaft journaled through the collar transversely of the output shaft and including an intermediate driven gear within the collar intermeshed with the helical drive gear wherein the driven shaft is pivotal about ahorizontal axis defined by the output shaft, driving gears secured on opposite ends of the driven shaft, the driving wheel assembly and lift means including driven gears disposed in the pivotal path of ,OPPOsite ends of the driven shaft for driving engagement with the driving gears thereof, lever means journaled on a horizontal pivot axis and rotatably receiving one end of the driven shaft through an intermediate portion thereof, tension spring means engaged with the lever biasing the driving gear adjacent the one end of the driven shaft for driving engagement with the driving wheel assembly, and force transmitting means engaged with said lever for pivoting the driven shaft away from the driving wheel assembly and engaging the driving gear at the opposite end of the driven shaft with the driving gear of the lift means. v

3. A power-driven remote-controlled vehicular toy comprising a chassis including steering and drive wheel assemblies, a reversible electric motor assembly on said chassis, power transmission on said chassis engageable between the drive wheel and reversible electric motor assemblies, a remote control assembly including. electrical control means for operating the reversible electric motor assembly and mechanical control means for operating the. steering Wheel assembly and controllingdriving engagement of the power transmission assembly with the motor and drive wheel assemblies, and a vertically pivotal article handling assembly on said chassis, power lift means for elevating the article handling assembly for dumping the contents thereof, the power transmission means being operatively engageable with the power lift means, said lift means including a horizontally disposed externally threaded shaft journaled on the chassis and rotatable upon engagement with the power transmission assembly, an internally threaded follower element circurnposed on the threaded shaft and movable thereon in responseto rotation ofsaid shaft, a force transmitting lever pivotally connected at one end to the follower element for vertical rotation on a horizontal pivot axis, a fixed horizontal shaft extendingtransversely in overlying relationship over the threaded shaft, said force transmitting lever including an intermediate longitudinally extending lost motion slot through which the horizontal shaft extends, said article handling means comprising a rearwardly opening dump truck bed pivotally disposed on a horizontal pivot axis on the rear of the chassis and including means resiliently urging the same toward a horizontally disposed position, and an elongated leaf spring carried by the other end of said. lever and engageable with the under face of the truck bed bottom, said dump truck bed including a rear gate assembly pivotally supported at its upper edge on the dump truck bed, means engaged with the chassis and gate as sembly for automatically opening and closing the gate assembly in response to vertical pivotal movement of the dump truck bed.

4. A power-driven remote-controlled vehicular toy comprising a chassis including steering and drive wheel assemblies, a reversible electric motor assembly on said chassis, power transmission on said chassis engageable between the drive wheel and reversible electric motor assemblies, a remote control assembly including electrical control means for operating the reversible electric motor assembly and mechanical control means for operating the steering wheel assembly and controlling driving engagement of the power transmission assembly with the motor and drive wheel assemblies, and a vertically pivotal article handling assembly on said chassis, power lift means for elevating the article handling assembly for dumping the contents thereof, the power transmission means being operatively engageable with the power lift means, said steering Wheel assembly including vertically extending steering arms journaled on opposite sides of the chassis, a connecting rod pivotally con- 10 nected at opposite ends to vertically extending portions of the steering arms, an intermediate stub shaft extending vertically from a central portion of the connecting rod, a longitudinally extending cam plate reciprocably supported on said chassis and including a cam slot portion through which the stub shaft extends, longitudinal reciprocal movement of the cam plate moving the con necting rod transversely of the vehicle chassis for steering the vehicle, force transmitting means extending between the cam plate and power transmission means, the mechanical control means being connected to the cam plate for longitudinally adjusting the same and controlling engagement between the power transmission means 15 and driving wheel assembly or lift means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

